Oregon’s Bridge of the Gods turned 100 on Monday, and the Pacific Crest Trail still crosses it into Washington
Most bridges just get you across a river. This one comes with a legend, a 140-foot drop to the Columbia, and a long-distance trail that walks straight onto the deck. The Bridge of the Gods hit its 100th birthday on Monday, and it is still the only place where the Pacific Crest Trail steps from Oregon into Washington.
Psst, we made you a West Coast Adventure Map. Nearly 1,900 of our favorite spots, already pinned, ready to load into Google Maps in two clicks: grab it here.
A century on the Columbia
The steel cantilever bridge opened on October 26, 1926, and it links Cascade Locks, Oregon, with the Washington side near Stevenson. It rises 140 feet above the river, which is high enough that you feel the gorge wind before you see the water.
It is also still a toll bridge, run by the Port of Cascade Locks, which has owned it since 1961. Cascade Locks sits about 40 miles east of Portland, so this is an easy add-on to any Gorge day.
📍 GET THE ULTIMATE PNW MAP 🗺️
Get our curated list of the best adventures, things to do, and places to grab a brew loaded onto your maps with just two clicks!
✅ Waterfalls ✅ Hikes ✅ Viewpoints
✅ Craft breweries ✅ National Parks ✅ 1400+ Pins
Where the Pacific Crest Trail changes states
The Oregon stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail ends right here, and hikers cross the narrow two-lane span to pick up the trail in Washington. The 2014 film Wild put that crossing on a lot of bucket lists, and the traffic followed.
Here is the part worth knowing before you get ideas: the bridge is technically open to pedestrians, but it has no sidewalk or protective barrier. For most visitors, the better move is to admire it from the ground and save the crossing for people who are thru-hiking.
The wet-season hike that starts at its feet
Want to walk the trail without gambling on traffic? Start at the Bridge of the Gods Trailhead in Toll House Park, cross the road, and follow the Pacific Crest Trail toward Dry Creek Falls. It is 4.4 miles out and back with about 725 feet of climbing, so you will warm up without suffering.
At Dry Creek you leave the PCT for a rough track of about 0.2 miles to the falls, which drop roughly 75 feet over a basalt wall. This hike stays open all year and the falls run much heavier in the wet months, so my pick is a weekday after a good rain, when the weekend crowds are not there to share it with you.
One more thing: the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire affected most of this hike, so check current conditions with the Forest Service before you head out and be ready to turn around if the weather says so.
Make a day of Cascade Locks
The town has a few easy stops that need no planning, including Cascade Locks Marine Park, Thunder Island and Toll House Park. Pair them with the bridge views and you have a full autumn afternoon without a single reservation.
Trip tips: grab a rental car to get out here, or book a room in Portland or the Gorge before the good ones are gone.
So, what do you think: would you cross the Bridge of the Gods on foot, or are you happy to leave that to the thru-hikers? Tell us in the comments.
